The White Mountains are a small range of high peaks on the east side of the northern Owens Valley, near Bishop, California. The highest point, White Mountain Peak, is 14,242 feet, which is only a couple hundred feet short of the highest point in the Sierra Nevada range to the west. The White Mountains are home to a large grove of Bristlecone pines, the oldest living things on earth.

White Mountains Tableland, Early Morning

View of the rolling plateau of the White Mountains, looking east at about 9:30am. This view is from the road about one mile beyond the locked gate to the Barcroft Laboratory, White Mountains, California.

View of the rolling plateau of the White Mountains, looking east at about 9:30am. This view is from the road about one mile beyond the locked gate to the Barcroft Laboratory, White Mountains, California.

When the rock strewn plateau along the crest of the White Mountains meets the eastern precipices of the range it takes on the appearance of the plunging waves seen at the tops of waterfalls. Note the bright green Mono clover that lives among these bone dry rocks.